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Wednesday, 6 March 2013

New book - The Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway

I can't remember the date this book was published apart from being some time leading up to Christmas. Colin, on Yahoo's China Clay Branchline User Group, informed me of its imminent publication, so a copy was ordered from Twelveheads Press. As soon as it arrived, it was confiscated and whisked off to Santa to be wrapped as a Christmas present. Though a little frustrating having to wait, it did add to the anticipation of the read.

I'd purchased a couple of other books by Michael Messenger, Industrial Railways of the South West and North Devon Clay but his recent publication The Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway is in a different class to the previous two books. It must the the most comprehensive book published to date on this branch line. Covering the early canal proposals along the Camel Valley during 1858-1825; different proposals for a railway beginning in 1830 through to its completion in1834; expansion plans and 'what might have beens'; personalities behind the railway; different plans for a branch to Bodmin including all GWR proposals to Bodmin and Boscarne; the eventual arrival of the L.S.W.R.; information on mining in the area and clay workings; traffic workings on the branch for its ealiest days to closure; locomotives that worked on the line, and diagrams of early coaches and wagons. There has been some serious research undertaken to uncover information within the book, which is well written and supported by many photographs and diagrams.

I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone interested in this branch line or any aspect of Cornish railway history. In fact I think it should be on the book shelf of anyone interested in British Railway history. This is a superb book...but then I'm a little bias on the subject.

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After my interest in railway modelling was rekindled,I spent considerable time dithering over choice of track gauge to use in 4mm. Eventually I decided to jump in at the deep end and try my hand at working to P4 standards with its track gauge of 18.83 mm.

Currently the main project is the creation of Tredethy Wharf. This is my beginner's plank to test my ability at modelling to P4 standards. It will be an attempt to represent a fictional wharf on the goods only line to Wenfordbridge. I'm pulling in elements from Dunmere, Helland and Tresarrett Wharfs to hopefully create a reasonable representation of a wharf on this line.

As this is my first layout for well over 20 years the aim of this blog is to record my meandering progress and hopefully be an incentive to keep going.